Background topics can help in better understanding bible passages and fall into two categories
Key events and times topics
These topics provide a big picture framework through which to view the Bible. They help the reader understand how each part of the Bible fits within the overarching message of God restoring the broken relationship between humankind and himself.
In a sense the reader can “step back” and see the “big picture” before zooming in to look closer.
They are arranged hierarchically under 6 main topics – Creation, the Fall, Israel, Jesus, Early Church and End times. In turn, each main topic may include sub topics. For example the “Israel” topic includes these sub topics – Abraham, Moses, Conquest, United Kingdom, Divided Kingdom and Exile. Further, these sub topics may have their own sub topics and so on.
Readers can readily discover where each topic “fits” within the big picture framework by referring to its breadcrumb
Other background topics
These topics include background information such as cultural, political and religious backgrounds that can help in understanding. As with “Key Events & Times” topics, they are systematically arranged.
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Background topics are, in the main, summaries of relevant material from Encountering the Old Testament and Encountering the New Testament. They are accessed from topics via links when needed for better understanding of the passage under discussion.